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Newsletter Articles
May 2025

• Teenage Athlete with Spondylolisthesis Helped by Chiropractic
• Stabbing Back Pain and Leg Pain with Herniated Disc Helped by Chiropractic
• Lifelong Gastrointestinal Symptoms Resolved Under Chiropractic Care
• Developmental Coordination Disorder Helped by Chiropractic

Teenage Athlete with Spondylolisthesis Helped by Chiropractic

The Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic published the results of a case study on March 19, 2025, documenting the improvement in the symptoms related to spondylolisthesis in a young adolescent athlete.

Spondylolisthesis is a condition where the front body portion of one of the bones in the spine slips forward on the bone below it. This is usually caused when there is a separation in the connecting part of the bone that holds the front and rear portion of the vertebrae together. This part of the vertebrae is known as the pars interarticularis. This separation can be genetic, age related, or caused by trauma.

In this case, the patient was a 15-year-old girl. She was a competitive softball pitcher who started having progressively worse back pain after pitching back-to-back days in a softball tournament a week prior. The pain was rated as 7 out of 10 with 10 being the worst. The girl reported that her pain was somewhat better with rest and exacerbated with activity, especially movements involving lower back extension and rotation. Her history showed no previous neuromusculoskeletal injuries and no other medical history that would have contributed to her problem.

A chiropractic examination was conducted and revealed multiple areas of muscle tightness and tenderness along the girl's lumbar spine. Her range of motion was also restricted due to muscle spasm and pain. There were no additional neurological signs or symptoms.

Initially, two weeks of conservative care with activity avoidance was tried, with little results. It was then determined that an MRI should be conducted. The results of the MRI showed that the girl did indeed have a bilateral fracture or separation of the pars interarticularis, and therefore was suffering from a spondylolisthesis. With the new information about the girl's condition, an intensive regime of specific forms of chiropractic care, patient education, and exercises were started and maintained over an initial 8-week period. The patent education involved information on short-term restrictions as well as a plan for reintroduction to sports activities over time.

After an 8-week evaluation, the study reports that there was improvement in both subjective and objective findings. The patient reported a decrease in pain from the previous 7 out of ten, down to just 1 out of ten. The girl also showed an increase in her range of motion as well as the ability to perform certain spinal movements without having any pain.

As the girl continued to improve, she was able to begin softball pitching and was again able to gradually participate in competitive softball. Over time, she was able to return to 100% of her competitive level.

Stabbing Back Pain and Leg Pain with Herniated Disc Helped by Chiropractic

The second quarter 2025 issue of the Asian-Pacific Chiropractic Journal published the results of a case study documenting the resolution of symptoms under chiropractic care of a patient who suffered a fall resulting in stabbing back pain, leg pain, and side pain.

This case involved a 36-year-old woman who suffered a fall while hiking. Within 24 hours of her fall, she began having symptoms which continued to get worse for the next 14 months before she decided to visit a chiropractor.

At the time of her chiropractic visit, the woman reported that she was suffering with severe, constant, bilateral heaviness and squeezing pain in both her legs. She had visible swelling in both lower legs with the right leg being significantly worse. The woman also reported sharp low back pain and right lower leg pain between her knee and ankle. The severity of her symptoms was affecting her ability to stand, walk, exercise, sleep and work as a teacher. She rated her pains as a 7 out of 10.

Prior to seeking chiropractic care, the woman was seen by a general practitioner and a neurologist who ordered an MRI. The results of the MRI revealed two herniated discs between her fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae, and the fifth lumbar and her sacrum. Physical therapy and a compression sock did not help the woman as her symptoms continued to get worse.

Upon her very first visit to a chiropractor, a consultation and examination were performed. The examination included a posture analysis, spinal palpation, a spinal range of motion analysis, as well as some orthopedic and neurological testing.

Specific forms of chiropractic adjustments were started to address the subluxation complexes that were determined to be present. On the second visit, the woman reported that she was able to move more comfortably and had less pressure in her right lower leg. She also reported that her leg swelling had started to decrease.

On the third chiropractic visit, the woman stated that she was able start recreational cycling again. On the forth visit, she reported that she was able to sleep through the night without difficulty. On her fifth visit, she said that she felt a sense of stability while standing and walking. The woman steadily improved as chiropractic care continued. After eight months of care, the woman reported that all activities of her daily life had returned to normal.

Lifelong Gastrointestinal Symptoms Resolved Under Chiropractic Care

The Asian-Pacific Chiropractic Journal published the results of a case study in their second quarter 2025 issue that documented the resolution through chiropractic care of lifelong gastrointestinal problems.

In this case, a 9-year-old girl was brought to the chiropractor by her mother. The girl had a history of gastrointestinal problems since birth. The mother reported that her daughter would suffer with uncontrollable loose bowels and would have multiple accidents per day. The girl had also been experiencing bloating since birth that would cause abdominal pain and result in further accidents.

Because of her condition, the girl's attendance at school was significantly reduced, she would not participate in any after school activities, and she was socially withdrawn with significant self-esteem issues. Her mother reported that her daughter experienced up to 30 episodes of bowel incontinence per day, leading to low mental health and frequent emotional distress.

Over the years, the girl's mother continually sought medical help for her daughter. The girl had received a medical diagnosis of childhood irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and had undergone several years of unsuccessful medical management with laxatives and dietary modifications. Although the girl's mother was initially uncertain about trying chiropractic care, she was determined to find a solution to her daughter's suffering.

A detailed chiropractic examination was performed. The results of the examination led to the recommendation that specific forms of chiropractic care should be started. With the mother's permission, a regular regime of chiropractic care was started. The study noted that no additional therapies, nutritional guidance, or other interventions were introduced.

The results of the care were dramatic. The girl's episodes continually decreased until there was no longer an issue. Her bloating and pain were also resolved. After 12 weeks of chiropractic care, the study reports a total resolution of all the girl's problems.

So profound were the results and the impact on the young girl's life, that the mother made comments that were recorded in the study. "We can now enjoy days out, holidays, and social events. She attends birthday parties, school, and clubs without fear or issues. She is thriving in all aspects of life again. We have hosted friends at home, attended the theatre, and taken her friends along, previously impossible things. After years of struggle, we can finally see a glimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel. Her school attendance has improved dramatically, and social events are no longer a source of fear."

Developmental Coordination Disorder Helped by Chiropractic

The Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health Chiropractic published the results of a case study on April 14, 2025, documenting the correction of developmental coordination disorder and related symptoms in a young child who underwent chiropractic care to reduce vertebral subluxations.

The study authors begin by noting, "Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a significant delay of motor skills that affects all areas of the child's life." The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, is the American Psychiatric Association's (APA) professional reference book for mental health and brain-related conditions. The manual describes this condition as having the following criteria: Difficulties in coordinated motor skills which interfere with activities of daily living. These deficits start in a child's early developmental period and are not caused by other disabilities or health issues.

In this case, the parents of a 5-year-old boy became concerned when their son's teacher reported that the boy was not ready to move from pre-kindergarten to kindergarten. The boy also showed exaggerated blinking patterns and had no interest in learning colors, numbers or letters. The boy also had difficulties handling pencils or scissors and was unable to catch or throw a ball. Emotionally, the boy showed a shorter attention span than other children his age, and experienced meltdowns as well as being extremely disagreeable and defiant.

The child was under medical care and was seeing a speech pathologist attempting to improve his fine motor skills of his tongue. A pediatric optometrist diagnosed the boy with convergence insufficiency, accommodation insufficiency and oculomotor dysfunction. The boy was prescribed special glasses for these issues.

Upon being brought to the chiropractor, the boy was given a chiropractic examination which included a detailed postural analysis, spinal range of motion analysis, a spinal thermography (heat) reading and a surface electromyography (sEMG). From these tests, it was determined that spinal subluxations were present in the boy's spine. Based upon the examination, the boy was started on a regular care plan of chiropractic adjustments for the correction of subluxations.

Ther study reports that the child's progress was slow during the first two months of care. However, after that point the parents started noticing significant improvement in their son. The boy began to take an interest in learning, and he began to read and write and could count to 100. After three months of care, the boy could catch and throw a ball. His parents reported that their son's speech difficulties had stopped, and the boy became more reasonable and had less meltdowns. The study also reports that the boy's teacher said the boy was not wearing the glasses at school anymore and had also stopped the excessive blinking.

After six months of chiropractic care, the parents reported that their son was now learning multiplication and division, reading small books, and writing in sentences. They also noted that according to his teacher, their son was now at the top of his class and showed a new appreciation for school.